Said Pilot Intentionally Flew Between Electrical Towers Rather Than Over Them

A court in Victorville, CA has awarded a $10 million settlement to the widow of John Goble, who was fatally injured in an accident involving a vintage Piasecki PV-18 helicopter in November of 2009.

The jury found that the pilot, Joseph Pike, intentionally flew between two electrical towers rather than over them, which resulted in the fatal accident. The aircraft struck the powerlines during the maneuver and went down, killing all three people aboard. The verdict is against Pike's estate.

Pike had been the owner of Classic Rotors Rare and Vintage Rotorcraft Museum in Adelanto, CA. Gobel was reportedly a fan of vintage aircraft, according to the Victorville, CA, Daily Press, who had met Pike only one time previous to the accident flight. His work in the medical technology field had been featured by the National Geographic Channel and placed on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

The two men, along with a third person identified as James Jantz, had been flying the PV-18 to Flabob Airport in Riverside, CA, for a vintage aircraft and car show. Jantz's widow has also filed suit against Pike's estate. A separate lawsuit is pending against the LA department of water and power, which maintains the towers.

FMI: www.town-court.com/getTownCourt.php?courtID=2629